Structure of intermating members

ABSTRACT

The instant disclosure relates to a structure of intermating members. The structure includes a base and an annular member. The base has an outer surface that is formed with a protrusion. The annular member is fitted over the base and has an inner surface formed with a multiplicity of first and second grooves. Each second groove is in communication with two or more first grooves in forming a sliding path. The protrusion may be navigated within the sliding path to generate the playful effect of solving a maze. The user needs to figure out the appropriate path to move the protrusion out of the sliding path.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 103208447 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2014 May 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The instant disclosure relates to a structure of intermating members, in particular for leisure.

2. Related Art

Typically, conventional drink containers are used only for holding a received drink. However, in response to increasing market competition, in addition to offering new drink flavors, how to enhance drink packaging to attract consumer attention, is one of the issues faced by manufacturers.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, the instant disclosure provides a structure of intermating members, which comprises a base and an annular member. The base has an outer surface formed with a protrusion. The outer surface of the base is fitted with the annular member. The annular member has an inner surface that is formed with a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves in defining a sliding path, such that the protrusion may move slidably therein. The complex path defined by the first and second grooves creates a maze-like challenge for the user. The user would have to figure out the correct path so that protrusion can be navigated out of the maze.

For the instant disclosure, the structure of intermating members may be a container. The base further defines a mouth portion and the annular member includes a lid portion. That is to say the annular member acts as a lid for the container. When the annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, the mouth portion is covered therewith. In such a configuration, the first grooves are parallel to the lid portion, and the second grooves are perpendicular to the lid portion.

Additionally, the annular member defines an extended groove that communicates with all of the first grooves. In other words, a user can open the container directly without navigating the complex path, by passing the protrusion through the extended groove.

Another aspect of the annular member is that it is labeled with an opening mark. The opening mark is placed such that it corresponds to the location of the extended groove, so the user is clearly shown the location of the extended groove to quickly open the container.

With the first grooves being parallel to the lid portion and the second grooves being perpendicular to the lid portion, the user need only turn the lid portion in a left-right or up-down direction to open the container. The number or the arrangement of the first and second grooves may be varied to change the degree of complexity of the sliding path.

The instant disclosure also provides an alternative structure of intermating members. The structure of intermating members comprises a base and an annular member. The annular member has an inner surface formed with a protrusion. The base has an outer surface in adjacent with the protrusion and corresponds to the inner surface of the annular member. The annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, with the outer surface defining a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves, to define a sliding path. By determining the appropriate path in order to navigate the protrusion through the sliding path, the user can enjoy the fun of solving a maze.

For the instant disclosure, the structure may be a container. The base further defines a mouth portion and the annular member includes a lid portion. When the annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, the mouth portion is covered therewith. That is to say the annular member acts as a lid for the container.

Additionally, the outer surface of the base defines an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.

The first grooves may be parallel to the mouth portion, and the second grooves may be perpendicular to the mouth portion.

An opening mark is arranged near the mouth portion of the base to indicate the location of the extended groove.

Optionally the lid portion of the annular member is openable. So when a user prefers to open the container directly, the objective can be achieved by opening the openable lid portion, without needing to navigate through the complex sliding path.

The instant disclosure further provides an annular member. The annular member has an inner surface formed with a multiplicity of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of adjacent first grooves. The annular member includes a cover in connection to one side thereof. The annular member may also define an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.

The instant disclosure further provides a containing structure. The containing structure includes a base that defines a mouth portion. The mouth portion is formed at one end of the base. The base has an outer surface formed with a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of adjacent first grooves. Additionally, the containing structure defines an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.

For the containing structure of the instant disclosure, at least one of the first or second grooves is furnished with at least one obstacle portion to provide more fun for the user when navigating the protrusion through the sliding path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for a first embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for a second embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for a third embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for a fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for a fifth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for a sixth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 7 is another perspective view for the sixth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view for a seventh embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view for the seventh embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a lateral view for the seventh embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view for an eight embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIGS. 12A to 12D are lateral views for a groove of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To make a common article more fun and interesting, and to encourage customers to make more purchases, the instant disclosure provides an article based on the variations of a protrusion and grooves and the interaction therebetween, such that a maze-like effect for fun is achieved.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a structure of intermating members for a first embodiment of the instant disclosure. The structure comprises a base B and an annular member A. The base B is essentially a cup-like structure, while the annular member A is a cup sleeve provided for thermal insulation. The base B is shaped annularly, and has a protrusion B110 formed on an outer surface B100 thereof. The outer surface B100 of the base B is fitted with the annular member A. The annular member A has an inner surface A100 in adjacent with the protrusion B110. The inner surface A100 defines a plurality of first grooves A101 and a plurality of second grooves A102. Each of the second grooves A102 is in communication with a pair of adjacent first grooves A101 in defining a sliding path A30. When the user twists the annular member A or moves it generally in an up-and-down direction, the protrusion B110 will traverse the sliding path A30. For the instant disclosure, the base B may be a barrel-shaped holder for articles such as writing utensils, cookies, or others.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows the structure of intermating members for a second embodiment of the instant disclosure. In comparison with the preceding embodiment, a sliding path B30 and a protrusion A110 are formed such that the positions are reversed. That is, the protrusion A110 is formed on the inner surface A100 of the annular member A, while the outer surface B100 of the base B defines a plurality of first and second grooves B101 and B102. Each of the second grooves B102 communicates with at least two first grooves B101 to define the sliding path B30. When the outer surface B100 of the base B is fitted with the annular member A, the protrusion A110 may traverse in the sliding path B30.

Please refer now to FIG. 3, which shows the structure of intermating members for a third embodiment of the instant disclosure. In this embodiment, the base B is a pencil, and the annular member A is a pencil sleeve. At least a portion of the outer surface of the base B is annularly shaped, and the protrusion B110 is formed on such outer surface. The sliding path A30 is formed on the inner surface A100 of the annular member A. Just like the second embodiment described earlier, FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure with the protrusion A110 being defined on the inner surface of the annular member A, while the sliding path B30 is formed on the outer surface B100 of the base B.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows a fifth embodiment of the instant disclosure. In this embodiment, the base B is substantially a bottle-like artifact, while the annular member A is substantially a cap. More specifically, the base B has a body portion B01 and a rimmed mouth portion B11. The mouth portion B11 is defined by a sidewall B10 annularly shaped, and the protrusion B110 is formed on the sidewall B10 near the mouth portion B11. The sidewall B10 bridges the body portion B01 and the mouth portion B11. With respect to the body portion B01, the mouth portion B11 is arranged away from one end thereof. It should be understood that the base B may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate), bottle, a sports bottle, or other container having an opening. The size of the base B and the material(s) for making it are not restricted.

Please refer again to FIG. 5, in which the annular member A caps off the mouth portion B11. The annular member A has an annular wall portion A10 and a lid portion A11, with the lid portion A11 being removably disposed on an edge of the wall portion A10. The wall portion A10 has an inner surface A100 in adjacent with the protrusion B110. For this embodiment, the inner surface A100 represents a surface of the annular member A in correspondence to the protrusion B110. The inner surface A100 is formed with a plurality of first grooves A101 and second grooves A102. Each of the second grooves A102 is in communication with at least a pair of adjacent first grooves A101 to jointly define a sliding path A30. The concept of the sliding path is best illustrated in FIG. 10. Although in FIG. 10 the sliding path is formed on the base B instead of the annular member, but the principle remains the same. Please refer again to FIG. 5, in which when in use, as the annular member A is turned by the user, the protrusion B110 of the base B moves in the sliding path A30 accordingly. It should be noted that the sliding path A30 defines an exit A30-1 on the inner surface A100 and away from the lid portion A11. The exit A30-1 serves as an escape point from the maze. That is to say when the user has rotatably moved the protrusion B110 to the exit A30-1 of the sliding path A30, the container can be opened with the separation of the annular member A from the base B.

The first grooves A101 may be parallel to the lid portion A11, and the second grooves A102 may be perpendicular to the lid portion A11. The annular member A may be twisted in a left-right direction or unseated in an up-down direction by the user, for opening the container. The number and arrangement of the first and second grooves A101 and A102 may be varied to create a maze of different complexity.

Please refer to FIG. 6 for a sixth embodiment of the instant disclosure. For this embodiment, the annular member A is further formed with an extended groove A103. The extended groove A103 intersects all of the first grooves A101. By this arrangement, the user can open the container directly without navigating through the maze defined by the complex sliding path A30. More specifically, the protrusion B110 can be urged through the extended groove A103, which acts as a shortcut, to open the container. Please refer again to FIG. 5 of the previous embodiment. The lid portion A11 shown is a detachable lid portion A11-1 that may be operated to uncover the annular member A. In other words, the detachable lid portion A11-1 can be drawn away from the annular member A, to open the container.

FIG. 7 shows the annular member A of the sixth embodiment from another viewing angle. The lid portion A11 is furnished with an opening mark A104, which is provided to mark the location of the extended groove A103 defined on an inner surface of the annular member A. The opening mark A104 is utilized to address one issue, that is for the instant embodiment, because the maze-like structure is defined on the inner wall of the annular member A, the location of the extended groove A103 could not be determined exactly when base B is in engagement with the annular member A. In addition, the base B may be furnished with a protrusion label B114. Thereby, when the opening mark A104 and the protrusion label B114 are aligned to each other, the protrusion B110 can be made to pass through the extended groove A103 to open the container directly.

Please refer to FIGS. 8 and 9 for a seventh embodiment of the instant disclosure. For this embodiment, the maze-like structure is formed on the base B rather than the annular member A. Detailed descriptions of various features are provided below. The annular member A includes the annular wall portion A10, the lid portion A11 formed on a periphery of the wall portion A10, and the protrusion A110 formed on the inner surface A100 of the wall portion A10, as best illustrated in FIG. 9. The location of the protrusion A110 is away from the lid portion A11, with the inner surface A100 of the wall portion A10 intended for mating with the outer surface of the base B.

Please refer again to FIGS. 8 and 9. The base B has the body portion B01 (indicated by the dashed line), and the annular sidewall B10, with the side wall B10 having the mouth portion B11 formed on one end thereof peripherally. Another end of the sidewall B10 merges to the body portion B01, with the mouth portion B11 arranged oppositely of the body portion B01. The annular member A is capable of capping the mouth portion B11, and the sidewall B10 has the outer surface B100, which is adjacent to the protrusion A110. It should be noted for the instant embodiment, the outer surface B100 of base B is a surface used along with the protrusion A110 correspondingly. More specifically, the outer surface B100 is formed with the first grooves B101 and second grooves B102. Each of the second grooves B102 is in communication with at least two adjacent first grooves B101 in forming the maze-like structure.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the seventh embodiment. The first and second grooves B101 and B102 togetherly form the sliding path B30, which allows the protrusion A110 of the annular member A to move slidably therein. The sliding path B30 defines an opening B30-1 on the outer surface B100, with the opening B30-1 adjacent to the mouth portion B11. When the user intends to close the container, the opening B30-1 serves as an entry point of the maze. Once the protrusion A110 has entered the maze via the opening B30-1, the protrusion A110 may be slidably traversed to a distal end of the maze to close the container fully. The distal end is formed away from the mouth portion B11.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, for the seventh embodiment, the base B is formed with an extended groove B103 intersecting each of the first grooves B101. When the user intends to open the container, the protrusion A110 can be urged through the extended groove B103 without traversing through the maze defined by the sliding path B30. By this way, the container can be opened with the extended groove B103 serving as a shortcut.

Additionally, each of the first grooves B101 may be parallel to the mouth portion B11, and each of the second grooves B102 may be perpendicular to the mouth portion B11. The annular member A may be twisted in a left-right direction or unseated in an up-down direction by the user, for opening the container. The number and arrangement of the first and second grooves B101 and B102 may be varied to create a maze of different complexity.

Please refer again to FIG. 8. The base B is furnished with an opening mark B104, which is near the sidewall B10 and provided to indicate the location of the extended groove B103. Additionally, a protrusion label A114 may be furnished to the lid portion A11 of the annular member A as well. When the opening mark B104 and the protrusion label A114 are in line with each other, the protrusion A110 can be passed through the extended groove B103 to open the container directly. Alternatively, the lid portion A11 may be designed as a detachable lid portion for opening the container.

Please refer to FIG. 11, which illustrates an eighth embodiment of the instant disclosure. This embodiment relates to a bottle-like structure having a plug-type closure. The base B has the mouth portion B11, the annular sidewall B10 extending from the periphery of the mouth portion B11, and the protrusion B110 formed on the sidewall B10. For this embodiment, the protrusion B110 is formed on the inner surface of the sidewall B10 and near the mouth portion B11.

For the eighth embodiment, the annular member A substantially resembles a cylindrical closure for sealing the mouth portion B11. The annular member A has the wall portion A10 and the lid portion A11 formed on one end thereof. A ring-shaped portion A40 can further be formed on the lid portion A11 for hanging the container or facilitating the exertion of rotational force on the annular member A. The surface of the wall portion A10 is adjacent to the protrusion B110. The wall portion A10 is particularly formed with the first and second grooves A101 and A102. Each of the second grooves A102 is in communication with at least two adjacent first grooves A101 in forming the sliding path A30, except at the entrance/exit regions of the sliding path A30 as with all previously mentioned embodiments. When the user is twisting the annular member A, the protrusion B110 of the base B is urged to traverse in the sliding path A30. When the protrusion B110 has reached an opposite end of the sliding path A30, the container is ready to be unsealed. That is to say, the annular member A is poised to be separated from the base B. Based on the previously mentioned embodiments, for such a bottle-like structure with a plug-type closure, the maze-like structure can also be formed on the base B instead, with the protrusion being formed on the annular member A to achieve a similar effect.

As shown in FIGS. 12A˜12D, for the containing structure of the instant disclosure, at least one obstructing portion 40 can be formed on the bottom surface of any of the first grooves (A101 or B101), or second grooves (A102 or B102). The various designs of the obstruction 40 permit a greater playful effect as the protrusion A110 or B110 traverses in the sliding path. Please first refer to FIG. 12A, which shows a side view of a groove. The obstructing portion 40 is designed as a ramp-like structure with a sharp drop-off. That is to say, as the protrusion A110 or B110 traverses toward the right, the protrusion A110 or B110 would be lifted gradually by the ramp and then drops to the bottom surface of the groove. However, if the protrusion A110 or B110 is trying to traverse towards the left, the ramp acts as an obstruction. In other words, the sliding path becomes a one-way path that raises the level of difficulty for playing the game. Another embodiment is illustrated by FIG. 12B, in which the obstructing portion 40 gradually slopes upward and then downward. Such a configuration means extra effort would have to be applied to navigate the sliding path. Still another scenario is given by FIG. 12C, in which the obstructing portion 40 takes the form of a step-like structure. In this case, the protrusion A110 or B110 would need to be urged and relaxed alternately, to travel in the sliding path. Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. 12D, with the obstruction 40 being a plurality of bumps that create different senses of touch as the protrusion A110 or B110 passes therethrough.

While the instant disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. For anyone skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements within the spirit of the instant disclosure are covered under the scope of the instant disclosure. The covered scope of the instant disclosure is based on the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A structure of intermating members, comprising: a base having an outer surface, the outer surface being annular and having a protrusion; and an annular member fitted to the base, the annular member having an inner surface adjacent to the protrusion, the inner surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, wherein each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves in forming a sliding path, such that the protrusion is capable of traversing in the sliding path.
 2. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein the annular member further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
 3. The structure of intermating members of claim 2, wherein the annular member is labeled with an opening mark indicating the location of the extended groove.
 4. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein the structure of intermating members is a container and the base further has a mouth portion, while the annular member has a lid portion, and wherein when the annular member is fitted over the base, the mouth portion is sealed by the lid portion, with the first grooves parallel to the lid portion and the second grooves perpendicular to the lid portion.
 5. The structure of intermating members of claim 4, wherein the lid portion is of a removable type.
 6. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first grooves or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
 7. A structure of intermating members, comprising: an annular member having an inner surface, the inner surface having a protrusion; and a base having an outer surface adjacent to the protrusion, the outer surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, wherein each of the first grooves is in communication with at least two adjacent second grooves in forming a sliding path, such that when the annular member is fitted over the base, the protrusion is movable in the sliding path.
 8. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein the structure of intermating members further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
 9. The structure of intermating members of claim 8, wherein the structure of intermating members is labeled with an opening mark indicating the location of the extended groove.
 10. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein the structure of intermating members is a container and the base further has a mouth portion, while the annular member has a lid portion, and wherein when the annular member is fitted over the base, the mouth portion is sealed by the lid portion, with the first grooves parallel to the mouth portion and the second grooves perpendicular to the mouth portion.
 11. The structure of intermating members of claim 10, wherein the lid portion is of a removable type.
 12. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves have at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
 13. An structure of intermating members, comprising: an annular member having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, each of the second grooves being communicated with at least two first grooves.
 14. The structure of intermating members of claim 13, further comprising a lid portion connected to one side of the annular member.
 15. The structure of intermating members of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
 16. A containing structure, comprising: a base and a mouth portion defined at one end thereof, the base having an outer surface, the outer surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, each of the second grooves being communicated with at least two first grooves.
 17. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the first and second grooves form a sliding path, with one end of the sliding path in communication with the mouth portion.
 18. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the outer surface further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
 19. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
 20. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the containing structure is a drinking bottle, a cup, or a pen tube. 